Deborah Lynn "Debby" Dasbach Stewart

Deborah Lynn “Debby” Dasbach Stewart was born in Tucson, AZ on August 19^th, 1955.  Her father Len was a Lt. Col. in the Air Force and her mother Judy was a homemaker, and she has a younger brother David with whom she maintained a close relationship.  Debby grew up mostly in Texas and Oklahoma and graduated from High School in Altus, OK.   Debby went to Oklahoma State University and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Fashion Merchandise.  Debby was still in close contact with many friends from high school and college.
 

After college, Debby moved to Dallas where she was a store manager at Casual Corner.   In Dallas, Debby met her future husband Gary and they married at SMU on September 19, 1981. Shortly after getting married, Debby and Gary moved to Staten Island, NY. A few years later, they welcomed their first child Brandon on November 3, 1984.   Debby loved nothing more than being a mom.   
 

Missing the warm weather and friendly atmosphere of the south, Debby and Gary moved to Orlando, FL and eventually settled in the Dr. Phillips community where they remain.   Shortly after moving to Dr. Phillips, Debby and Gary had the joy of welcoming their second child, a daughter Taylor on December 12, 1990.   Debby exercised her passions for merchandizing and fashion by working at Ivey’s and later Dillard’s in the fragrance department, and was very involved in her children’s schools serving as a member of the PTA, serving as room-mom, and spending countless hours working on bazar’s and plays and everything in-between. 
 

With Gary’s job demanding heavy travel and her children’s lives becoming more and more active, Debby decided to become a stay-at-home mom and continued to be incredibly involved with her children and ever-increasing circle of friends.  Debby made friends everywhere she went from work to her children’s classrooms to her neighborhood.   
 

As her children got older and went away to college, Debby maintained an active social life and went back to work part-time working in the office at CDC at St. Luke’s.   Debby had a birthday lunch group “The Pink Flamingos”, a Bunco group “The Dicey Chicks”, a book club, and continued to take amazing vacations to everywhere from Arizona to Key West to Utah to New York City to Alaska. 
 

Debby also enjoyed decorating, keeping an immaculate home, watching The Orlando Magic, travelling, especially skiing with her family and enjoying national parks, and spending time with her large group of friends and her family.  

 

 

In April 2013, Debby was diagnosed with Squamous-cell carcinoma.  Debby battled fearlessly and courageously with her family and friends by her side.   She passed away on Saturday, October 11^th, 2014, at her home with family and friends, as always, by her side. 
 

Debby was so proud that her son had recently graduated from Law School and passed The Bar, and her daughter had recently graduated from college and begun working at a television station.  Debby spent the last few months of her life travelling to the Bahamas to celebrate her parents 60^th Wedding Anniversary, and with her husband to Alaska to celebrate their birthdays and 33^rd Wedding Anniversary.       
 

Everyone who knew Debby knows how many lives she touched. She was a wonderful person with a contagious laugh, easy-going personality, and warm smile.  She made everyone feel special.  
 

Debby is survived by her father Len, mother Judy, brother David, husband Gary, son Brandon, and daughter Taylor.
 

Services will be held Saturday, October 18^th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.  The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in Debby’s name to Orlando Health Foundation in support of the head and neck cancer program at UF Health Cancer Center – Orlando Health.  The foundation’s address is:

 

Orlando Health Foundation

3160 Southgate Commerce Blvd., Ste. 50

Orlando, FL 32806

Memorial gifts may also be made online at orlandohealth.kintera.org/ohf. 

 

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Apopka-Vineland and Conroy-Windermere Rds. at 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Rd., Orlando, FL  32819, (407) 876-4991